Fixing their bayonets for a turf war between Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and state Senator Brian P. Stack/Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, the interfacing rank and file functionaries have a simple question when you talk to them: How did we get to this point?

The Stack/Fulop people say they felt somewhat suffocated by DeGise 2019 signs papering over their backyards.

This was three weeks ago.

They called for a  meeting.

The principals crammed a table at the Coach House.

Hey what’s the idea with all the signs?

“I think I’m going to run,” DeGise mused.

At the verge of becoming the next chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCD) in June, Stack absorbed the comment.

Clearly DeGise was trying to cement himself for another term prior to Stack assuming the chairmanship.

But Stack wanted his own fingerprints on the future of Hudson, otherwise why go for the leadership position?

All right, Stack said, Fulop right there backing him up, but if you run, Tom, we want to be the first stop on the DeGise Bus tour.

They shoved back their chairs.

Everyone was mildly entertained.

But DeGise World wanted more.

They nursed an expectation greater than a few guys gathered around with menus propped.\

They doubled back.

You said you wanted to be the first stop on the bus.

Hey, wait a minute.

It’s a little early.

We didn’t think you meant today.

But that was the idea, DeGise and company said. Why wait? You said you wanted to be first. Now’s your chance.

Stack and Fulop blinked simultaneously.

Then right after that, they received an invitation to a DeGise fundraiser.

They called for another meeting.

They all circled up again.

Hey, you said…

No, you said.

Look, we’re all friends here.

But they couldn’t reach an agreement. DeGise wanted a blood oath right away. Stack and DeGise didn’t want to give it to him.

DeGise knew if he didn’t get a commitment right away, forget about when Stack was chair.

He’d be toast.

Neither side trusted the other.

Oh, well.

If DeGise didn’t get Stack/Fulop, he wanted to make sure he landed everyone else.

Stack/Fulop wanted another direction.

Stack would be damned if his first official act as chair was to restore DeGise to power.

And he was really supposed to sit on the sideline while the Sacco Regime dictated the next five years?

No way.

He and Fulop issued a statement.

They wanted another direction.

That act sparked the war.